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_Sky said:
Yes, but having suicidal ideation and making a threat are two entirely different things imo. Someone who is having such thoughts often aren't wanting to end life, but to end...the pain (physical, psychological, emotional) and that is very much a good subject for psychotherapy, imo.

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bipolar_bear said:
I think there is a distinct difference between suididal ideation and the I am going to perform the act now.

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Sure, we understand that distinction, but does a jury of 12 average folks? That, unfortunately, is what the whole issue hinges on I think. Let's say you're a therapist and a client calls you in the morning to discuss suicidal ideation. You talk it over with her for a while, and decide that she's not really a threat to herself. You schedule an appointment for the next morning and get on with your business.

All good...except later that night, the client slips much deeper into the hole. By this time, she doesn't have enough presence of mind to call her therapist or anyone else. She carries out a suicide attempt.

Now you're being sued by the family and it goes to trial. That jury hears that on the morning of her attempt, the client called you to talk about suicide, and you didn't refer her to the ER for treatment. Do they understand the difference between ideation and a threat? Do they even care?